At around 7:59 p.m. Sunday, police and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to a Hawaiian Beaches home on Ohiki Street after receiving a report of a structure fire. They discovered a house fully engulfed in flames. Police learned that the occupants, a 41-year-old Pahoa woman and Lopes, had exited the home prior to the fire and were uninjured.

A police investigation revealed that Lopes had allegedly threatened to set fire to the house.

Police found Lopes at a nearby home with a head injury unrelated to the structure fire. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

Lopes was arrested after he was discharged from the hospital. The structure was deemed a total loss at $180,000.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case or who may have witnessed this incident contact Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.